Reclining air cushion



Oct 7, 1952 G. L. BOLAND RECLINING AIR CUSHION Filed Sept. 13, 1949INVENTOh n Gus L..BoZand ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 7, 1.952

UNITED "STATES PATEurportion r 2,612,645 I I i a RECLINING AIR CUSHIONGus Leslie Boland, Modesto, Calif. V Application September 13, 1949,Serial No. 115,386.12.

, 2 Claims.

This invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, anovelair cushion for the com fort of a personreclining thereagainst; such aircushion being normally'inflat ed, but adaptedfor deflation and foldinginto a compact, light-weight bundle for carrying or storage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reclining air cushionwhich is of novel compartmented construction to assure of firmness orstability of the cushion when in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reclining air cushionwhich is secured at its lower and front edge to a forwardly projecting,flexible apron adapted to engage under a persons body whereby to preventdisplacement of the cushion from beneath the head.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a reclining aircushion designed for ease and economy of manufacture; such design beingsimple but very practical for the intended purpose.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a reclining air cushionwhich may be readily inflated by mouth; a flexible, projecting valvestem being included for this purpose. I I

. A further object of the invention is a convenient and reliablereclining air cushion, and one which will be exceedingly effective forthe purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and'relativearrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the followingspecification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the reclining air cushion, partly brokenaway.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, partly broken away, of thecushion.

Referring now more particularly to'the characters of reference on thedrawings, the novel, reclining air cushion comprises an air-tightassembly or envelope, indicated generally at I, which envelope isnormally inflated.

The envelope I, constructed in detail as hereinafter described, isfabricated from a lightweight but flexible air-tight material,preferably thin plastic sheet such as is now available.

The envelope I is substantially rectangular in plan and is of forwardlytapering, substantially wedge shape, as shown; such envelope comprisinga top or front panel 2, a bottom 3, side panels 4, and a back wall 5.These parts are sealed together at adjacent edges in air-tightrelationship.

The wedge-shaped envelope I is separated internally into a plurality oflongitudinal comto provide partments 6 by means of a pluralityof-upstanding, longitudinal, forwardly tapering partition I. Thepartitions I are secured in sealed or air-tight relation at the edgeswith the adjacent parts of the envelope such; partitionsserving-together with the side panelsto afford stability to the cushionand to maintain its shape when'thesame isinuse. H

Each partition 1 includes an air bleed hole 8 therethrough, whereby topermit of inflation or deflation of the cushion from the valve stem unithereinafter described; such air bleed holes allowing of equalization ofthe air pressure in the cushion.

The back wall 5 of the envelope I is rounded outwardly between the upperand lower rear edges of the cushion; this rounding not only imparting apleasing appearance to the cushion, but also enhancing its stability.

An apron 9 of flexible sheet material, such as the plastic sheet fromwhich the envelope I is fabricated, or of cloth, is secured to, andprojects in symmetrical relation forwardly from, the front lower edgeII] of said envelope I. The flexible apron 9 is preferably. rectangularin shape and is of suflicient length to lie some distance beneath v apersons body when the head or shoulders are reclining against the aircushion. The apron 9,

with the weight of the persons body imposed thereon, thus prevents thecushion from displacement when in use.

One of the side panels 4 is fitted with a flexible valve stem II havingan attachment flange I2 at its inner end, which flange is vulcanizedorotherwise secured to said side panel 4, with the valve stem incommunication with the adjacent compartment 6. At its outer end thevalve stem I I includes a. valve I3 fitted with a screw cap It.

Through the medium of the above described valve stem arrangement, theenvelope 1, which comprises the air cushion, may be filled by mouth withair; the air as delivered into the near compartment 6 equalizing in thecushion by flowing into the other compartments through the air bleedholes 8, as previously described.

When it is desired to deflate the cushion the valve 13 is opened and thecushion is then rolled or folded into a compact light-weight bundlewhich is easy tocarry and store.

When the cushion. is inflated and use it provides a very convenient andcomfortable back or head support for a person; the apron 9 assuring thatthe cushion remain in any selected position of use.

The cushion is very practical and effective for the present andpreferred construction of the article of manufacture, still in practicesuch deviations from such detail may be resorted to as 'do not form adeparture from the spirit of the invention, as defined by'the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, the following is claimed as new anduseful and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A reclining air cushion comprising an air tight envelope of flexiblematerial and forwardly tapering substantially wedge shape, saidenvelopeincluding a top panel, a bottom panel, side panels, and a back Wall; anda plurality of laterally spaced, upstanding wedge shaped partitionssecured-in the envelope and extending iromback to front of the envelopeand separating the same internally into a plurality of separatecompartments extending from back to front of the envelope, there beingrestricted air passage means between adjacent compartments. 1

2. A reclining air cushion comprising a normallyinfiated envelopeincluding top and bottom panels of flexible material disposed inrelatively sharp diverging relation from a junction with each other atone end, and a flexible apron sheet extending as a continuation of oneof the envelope panels from said junction; the length and width of thetop panel being such as to accommodatethe head, shoulders, and adjacentportion of the back of a person inclined on the apron.

GUS LESLIE B-OLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date 1,156,523 Clements Oct. 12,1915 1,382,531 Newborn June 21, 1921 2,167,178 7 Kohlstadt j July 25,1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country .Date

298,584 Great Britain Sept. 21, 1933

